Apparatus and method for sealing waxed wrappers



y 25, 1937. R, A. HAYWARD 7 2,031,625

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SEALING WAXED WRAPPERS Filed Dec. 5].. 1935 n c srelented May 25, 1937 2,081,626 I "UNITED STATES PATENT: OFFICE APPARATUS AND METHOD For: SEALING WAXED wnnrrms Ralph A. Hayward, Parchment, Mich., assignor to Kalamazoo Vegetable Parchment Company, Parchment, Mich.

Application December 31, 1935, Serial No. 56,943

14 Claims. (in. 93-2) In the wrapping; and sealing of articles in conveyor, 3 a bottom folder, and 4 a, rear end flap. waxed wrappers, it is a very general practice to These parts are conventionally shown. Wrap the article, for example bread, in a waxed A wrapper is indicated at 5. This wrapper is wrapper,'overlapping the sealing flaps or folds, positioned across the path of the article to be not heavily waxed.

The main objects of this invention are: the rear end flap 1 as indicated in Fig. 4. As the First, to provide an improved method of sealing article is carried forward onto the conveyor way waxed wrappers, whereby a more effective seal- 2, the front portion of the wrapper is lapped upon 15 in the article wrapped. ,in thefront end flap 9. This turning in of the- 2 Second, to provide an improved method of sealf nt and rear end flaps Produces the top end flap 2 ing waxed wrappers which not-only secures more 0 and bottom end flap II. The bottom end flap Objects relating to details and economies of the flaps are compl t y osed. I intr du a 25 in the claims. source of supply l5 through a valved dropper A structure which is a preferred embodiment mechanism l6, a drop of water being indicated 0 of my invention is illustrated in the accompanyat H.

ing drawing, in which: I The nozzle I4 is directed and positioned so that Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the one or more drops of water will drop between the initial wrapping step, the apparatus being cona flaps prior to the complete closing thereof. The ventionally shown.

Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are perspective yiews illuswith the sealing pressure plate l8, the tempera.

Fig. 8 1s a view illustrating the succeedingstep, livery to the sealing plates. The steam acts th namely, that of applying heat and pressure to the S as the steam generated from the ropsof superimposed flaps, water to facilitate distribution of heat to the Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the wrapped parts to be sealed and any steam that may be article. condensed in contacting with the cold wrapper In the embodiment illustrated, I represents is reconverted when the wrapper is brought into an article to be wrappedin this instance a loaf contact with the sealing plate. of bread. 2 represents a wrapping and sealing It will be understood that the contact of the sealing flaps with the heating means is momenconventional form as tary and frequently the speed of the wrapping is limited by the speed of sealing but even at the same speed it is very desirable to improve the effectiveness of the sealing and this has been accomplished in a very simple manner. I

I have illustrated the various steps mainly in it will be understood that my improvements may be embodied in or adapted to various forms; of wrapping machines now in use. While the method is particularly desirable in wrapping articles in which the wrapper has superimposed end flaps of the character illustrated, it is advantageous to use it wherever there are overlapping waxed parts to be sealed. I have not attempted to illustrate these various adaptations as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: 1. In a sealing means for waxed wrappers, the combination of sealing flap folding means arranged to formand fold front, rear, bottom and top flaps in the order' named, means for introducing a' limited amount of water into the flaps before the top flap is closed, and a heating means acting upon the closed flaps whereby the water is converted into steam and facilitates the distribution of heat andthe fusing of the wax.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with means for forming overlapping closure flaps, of means for introducing a limited amount of .whereby the water is converted to steam during the sealing step.

3, An apparatus for wrapping and sealing artisealing parts after the steam has been introduced therein.

5. An apparatus for wrapping and sealing 7 articles comprising means for wrapping an article with a waxed wrapper with parts, means for introducing moisture between the overlapping parts, and means acting in sequence for heating and pressing such overlapping sealing parts.

water between the flaps, andv a sealing plate coacting with the closure flaps after the water has been introduced therebetween overlapping sealing aosmac 6. The method of sealing waxed wrappers which consists of wrapping the article and partially closing the sealing portion thereof, introducing a limited amount of water into such partially closed sealing portions, and promptly thereafter subjecting the sealing portions to heat and pressure whereby the water is converted to steam which acts to facilitate the distribution of heat and the fusing of the wax.

'7. The method of sealing waxed wrappers including the steps of bringing the sealing parts of the wrapper into overlapping relation with a limited amount of water between them, and applying heat and pressure to the zone to be sealed, the temperature of the heating means being such as to convert the water into steam which acts to facilitate the distribution of heat and fusing of the wax. v

.8. The method of sealing waxed wrappers comprising the steps of forming overlapping closure parts, introducing a limited'amount of water between overlapping parts to be sealed, and applying external heat and pressure to the overlapping parts, the heat being sufficient to convert the water into steam.

9.- The method of sealingwaxed wrappers comprising the steps of forming overlapping closure flaps; introducing a limited amount of water between overlapping flaps to be sealed, and applying external heat and pressure to the overlapping flaps, the heat being suflicient to convert the water into steam. 10. The method of sealing waxed wrappers comprising the steps of forming overlapping closure flaps, introducing steam between the overlapping closure flaps, and applying external heat and pressure to such overlapping flaps.

comprising the steps of forming overlapping closureparts, introducing molsture between the overlapping closure parts, and applying external heat and pressure to the overlapping parts to be sealed. i

12. The method of sealing waxed wrappers comprising the steps of forming overlapping closure parts, discharging a jet of steam thereto, and immediately thereafter applying external heat and pressure to the parts to be sealed.

13. The method of sealing waxed "wrappers comprising the steps of bringing the sealing parts of the wrapper into overlapping relation, intro-' ducing moisture locally adjacent the surfaces to be sealed, and applying heat and pressure to the zone to be sealed. p

14. The method of sealing waxed wrappers comprising the steps of bringing parts of the wrapper into. overlapping relation, introducing steam locally, adjacent the surfaces to be sealed,'and applying heat and pressure to the zone tobe sealed. x t v I RALP H A. HAYWARD.

the sealing 

